Animal Behaviour Report
Uploaded by box on Sep 07, 2005
Animal Behavior Report
Table of Contents
Page 3: Aim and Hypothesis
Page 4: Materials and Method
Page 6: Critique of Data
Page 7: Analysis of Data
Page 8: Explanation in Terms of Theory
Page 9: Conclusion
Aim
Animal behaviors develop as a result of the interaction between genetic and environmental influences. The purpose of this experiment is to imprint a chicken so it will think of you as its parent. Imprinting is the learning process observed in young birds and mammals, is the identification of an animal with another animal. Normally, it is a relationship between members of the same species, but it can occur, for example between a bird and a human, between members of different species. Imprinting can take place only during a particular period of the animal’s development – a specific time span, with chickens its hours after they hatch.
Hypothesis
Imprinting takes place during the early stages of development. By imprinting a baby chicken for two weeks, the chicken will see me as its ‘parent,’ and therefore respond to my movements. I will imprint the response to tapping and clucking. The chicken will follow my movements and as it becomes more accustomed to me, it will move quicker and without hesitation.
Materials
• Fish tank
• News paper
• Tea-towel
• 2 small containers
• lamp
• chicken food/water
• A3 paper and A4 paper
• Shoe box
Methods
The Imprinting Process
A. Initial Contact
1. Gently cup your hands around the animal and place it on a bench approximately 50cm in front of you.
2. Slowly release your hold on the animal ad gently withdraw your hands and draw them to your body. At the same time make soft clucking-type sounds.
B. Reinforce Communication Bond
3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until the animal keeps following your hands,
4. Cup the animal in your hands and hold it for approximately 10 to 15 seconds.
5. Keep repeating steps 1 to 3 for 15 to 20 minutes.
6. Place the animal back in the shoe box container and allow it to feed for approximately one hour
7. Repeat steps 1 to 3 for 15 to 20 minutes
C. Final Imprinting of Animal
8. Gently place the animal on the floor.
9. Slowly and quietly move away from the animal and at the same time make soft clucking-type sounds.
10. Pick up the animal and gently cup it in your hands.
11. Repeat steps 8...